Is this 924 turbo ROW? I have the VIN.

Davie Boy · Davie Boy's Garage

Hello, all.

I've run into a guy selling a 1980 924 turbo. He claims that it's the Rest-Of-World version, i.e. 170hp version, but he really doesn't know much about Porsches. So... rather than drive 3 hours just to prove his claim, I asked him for the VIN. It's 93AO150498. Does anyone know if this is a ROW VIN or not? I can't seem to find any reliable info on the net. I did find one source - Original Porsche 924/944/968 - that shows this VIN as Japanese... but this source hasn't always been accurate for me. If anyone has anything to share, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks.

mr. dude · 02-12-2008, 03:37 AM

I'd like to know this as well. Possibly the instrument panel cluster may be different (Speedometer KPH/MPH)... just guessing here.

mr. dude · 02-12-2008, 04:03 AM

Pretty sure that is a sign. ROW speedo should look like this....

924RACR · 02-12-2008, 05:51 AM

You need the 924 VIN decoder!!!

http://www.924board.org/register/vindec.html

Actually, I ran yours through, but it doesn't clearly indicate a model (US/UK/RoW etc). It's actually 93A0150498 (the first "O" is actually a zero), and I don't believe there's anything in that VIN to indicate... if anything, might be "450" instead of "150"...

Perhaps a better way to confirm the EU origin might be the engine #, since he's trying to sell it as such he should be able to provide a good photo that clearly shows the Euro engine code.

Best of luck!

Davie Boy · Davie Boy's Garage

mr. dude... do you know if the Japanese model would have kilometers or miles? I'm also trying to distinguish between ROW and Japanese since the Japanese had the same smog controls as the US.

924RACR... where do I locate the engine number and what should it read? It's been awhile since I owned a 924 and I'm sure this guy is gonna have trouble locating it.

J1NX3D · J1NX3D's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr. dude

Pretty sure that is a sign. ROW speedo should look like this....

hi there,
not always. my RoW '80 turbo is a UK import with both miles and kms on the speedo.

924RACR · 02-12-2008, 01:58 PM

The engine code is stamped on a flange at the back of the engine, next to the bellhousing, by the timing window, and under the back of the intake.

Not easy to get to/photograph, but he can't expect to get the top dollar for a Euro engine if he can't prove it is one!!!

mr. dude · 02-12-2008, 02:42 PM

Thanks for clearing that up. I wasn't exactly sure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mAd924

hi there,
not always. my RoW '80 turbo is a UK import with both miles and kms on the speedo.

DMRK · 02-12-2008, 06:45 PM

What about carfax?

Davie Boy · Davie Boy's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMRK

What about carfax?

Unfortunately, Carfax isn't available for these older VINs.

Thanks, all... for the suggestions and info.

924RACR · 02-13-2008, 04:39 AM

I've also run Carfaxes on my cars (the 81-82's, first years Carfax even registers), had them come back clean.

The cars did not warrant it. They all have been hit, etc. Not that I'm so worried about it - just an FYI that a clean Carfax for such old cars, IMO, is meaningless.

markvf · 03-10-2008, 05:13 AM

According to http://www.connact.com/~kgross/FAQ/944faq02.html that is a US, Canadian or Japanese VIN with the 15 being the key:

The 924 Turbo (931)
Model Year Market Engine Code Displacement (cc.) HP @ RPM (DIN) Stroke/bore (mm.) Compression ratio Management system Transmission Code Weight (lb.) Chassis numbers
1979-80 EU, RoW M31/01 1984 170 @ 5500 84.4 x 86.5 7.5 : 1 CIS K-Jetronic G31/01 2779 93 A0 14 0001 – 9999
1979-80 US, CN, JA M31/02 1984 150 @ 5500 84.4 x 86.5 7.5 : 1 CIS K-Jetronic G31/02 2779 93 A0 15 0001 – 9999

Apparently EU and RoW had VIN's starting in 14

chrenan · 03-10-2008, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr. dude

I'd like to know this as well. Possibly the instrument panel cluster may be different (Speedometer KPH/MPH)... just guessing here.

Hi Mark. We haven't had one of your sob stories over on 924Board.org for a while. Why don't you stop by and tell us how tough you have it? While you're there, maybe you can refund some of the money you stole from well meaning members?

Loser.

mr. dude · 03-11-2008, 04:30 AM

uuuuhh what?

My name's Jeremy. Are you confusing me with someone else?

markvf · 03-11-2008, 04:55 AM

Whoa, scared me for a second...was going "What did I do?" Never even posted on 924.org, but then I read the other thread explaining the situation with a different Mark...whew!